Improved apparatus for saving floating gold



'sands are auriferous.

Westschwatelrt fyi-gire.

DAVID GAryJ-R., 0F V'ALLEJdcALIFoRNIA. Letters .Patent No. 86,388, dated Felnuu/r'y 2, 1869.

IMIPRO'VEID APPARATUS FOR SAVING- FLOATING: GOLD.

The Schedule referred to in these L etters Patent and making parl: of the lam?.

To all whom 'itmay concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID GAY, Jr., of Vallejo, county of Solano, State of California', have invented an Improved Device for Saving Float-Gold on the seabeach; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying drawings are suiicient to enable any person skilled in the art or science to which it most nearly appertains, to make and use my said invention or improvements without further invention or experiment."

The object of my invention is to provide a device for catching and saving the line gold which is moved by the tides or surf of the ocean in localities Where the The action of the surf on the sands of the beach tends to keep it in motion, carrying with it the fine or float-gold; and

My invention consists in forming a hollow tube or cylinder having a covering on the outside and a lining on the inside,- made of copper, which are indented over their entire surfaces and amalgamated with quicksilver, so as to catch and retain the gold that may come in contact with them. The cylinder is then anchored in the surf, so that the action of the water upon it will keep it in a continual motion, gathering up the goldas it moves.

To more fully illustrate and explain my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings and letters marked thereon, of kwhich- Figure l is a side View.

Figure 2 is a side sectional elevation.

Figure 3 is an end View.

A is a hollow cylinder, made of wood'or other material, light enough to be easily moved by the force 'of the waves, and heavy enough to sink and remain on the bottom.'

This'cylinder is lined on the inside with sheet cop- A,

per, a, or other'l metal, capable of being amalgamated with mercury, which is indented, as shown, around its entire surface.

The cylinder is also provided with a covering, b, simi lar to the lining on the inside, and provided with like indentations and the surfaces of both the lining c and covering b are amalgamated with quicksilver, so that when rolling over the sand on the bottom, the` line gold will gather on the surface and in the indentations, and be held by the amalgamated surfaces.

A spindle, C, passes through the centre of the cylinder longitudinally, and -is supported at each end by passing through holes in metal plates, D D, one at each end, which are supported in the centre of the holanchor is disengaged and carried with it up the beach,4

thus allowing the cylinder to keep `where the waves strike the sand and create the greatest commotion.

A round ball, pierced with holes and covered and amalgamated similar tothe cylinder above described, wouldanswer, perhaps, quite as well, but I prefer the cylindrical form.

With this device, I am able, after having found a beach 'where thesands are auriferous, by simply attaching the cable to some stationary object along the shore, and casting adrift my amalgamated cylinder, to gather gold without furtherlabor or expense.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. Surrounding a hollow cylinder of light material, A, either inside or outside, or both, with indented and amalgamated metal platesa and l1, or equivalent de` vice, for gathering the gold from auriferous sands on the beach, substantially as described.

2. The spindle C, rotating in the metal plates D D and the supporting-arms c c c, in combination with the hollow cylinder C, or equivalent device, substantially as described.

3. The cable E,'when attached to the hollow cylinder A, together with the anchor F, for regulating the movements of the cylinder, substantially as described,

for the purpose set forth.

4. Washing the auriferous sands on the sea-shore by means of larnalgamated surfaces, either cylindrical or otherwise, when the same are operated by the surf or waves of the sea, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof, L have hereunto' set my hand and seal.

DAVID GAY, JR. [L s.]

Witnesses:

J. L. BOONE, Guo. H. STRONG. 

